The Alexandria Shooting: When Childhood Play Turns to Tragedy
A Child Shot a Child Opening About Debate About Gun Laws
The Alexandria Shooting: When Childhood Play Turns to Tragedy
Case Status: Under Investigation
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Date: December 6, 2025
Victims: Tre’Michael, age 9
Suspect: 10-year-old male (name withheld due to juvenile status)
In a case that challenges our understanding of juvenile violence and gun safety, a routine afternoon of childhood play in Alexandria, Louisiana, transformed into a nightmare that would leave one family searching for answers and a community grappling with the unthinkable.
The Shooting
On December 6, 2025, 9-year-old Tre’Michael was spending time with his 10-year-old friend in what should have been an ordinary day of childhood activities. Instead, the day ended with Tre’Michael fighting for his life in a hospital bed, his small body bearing the catastrophic damage of a single gunshot wound.
According to the Alexandria Police Department’s initial statement, what happened inside that home was first believed to be an accidental shooting. However, the account given by the young victim himself would soon challenge that assessment and raise disturbing questions about what really transpired between these two children.
“Mama, He Shot Me on Purpose”
When Tre’Michael’s breathing tube was finally removed and he could speak for the first time since the shooting, his mother, Lakisha Ledguies, was at his bedside. The words that emerged from her son’s lips would forever change the narrative of that December afternoon.
“When the tube first came out of his mouth and he was able to talk, the first word was me, ‘Mama, Mama, he shot me on purpose,’” Ledguies told local outlet KALB.
This simple yet devastating statement transformed what authorities initially believed to be a tragic accident into something far more complex and disturbing. A 10-year-old child—barely old enough to understand the permanence of death—now stands accused of intentionally shooting his younger friend.
The Physical Toll
The damage inflicted by that single bullet was both extensive and life-altering. According to a family member who organized a GoFundMe campaign for Tre’Michael’s medical expenses, the injuries represent a lifetime of challenges ahead for the young victim.
“The injuries he sustained are severe—he has lost his right kidney, half of his left lung, and his intestines were shattered by the bullet,” the family member wrote, describing what they called “an unimaginable journey” of recovery.
These aren’t injuries that heal with time. Tre’Michael faces a future of medical complications, potential limitations, and the psychological trauma of having been shot by someone he considered a friend. At just 9 years old, his childhood has been stolen in the most violent way imaginable.
The Suspect and the Questions
The 10-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of aggravated second-degree battery and juvenile in possession of a handgun. His identity remains protected due to his juvenile status, but the charges against him raise critical questions about juvenile intent and culpability.
How does a 10-year-old child comprehend the permanence and severity of shooting someone? What circumstances led to this moment of violence? Most troubling of all: how did a child this young gain access to a loaded firearm?
These questions remain unanswered in the official investigation, leaving a community to wonder what warning signs might have been missed and what could have prevented this tragedy.
The Gun Access Problem
Perhaps the most critical unanswered question in this case involves how the 10-year-old suspect obtained the weapon used in the shooting. Louisiana law prohibits juveniles from possessing handguns, making the firearm’s presence in the child’s hands a separate criminal matter that demands investigation.
Was the weapon properly secured? Did an adult leave it accessible? Were there previous warning signs about the suspect child’s behavior that went unaddressed? The answers to these questions could determine whether additional charges will be filed against adults who may have failed in their responsibility to secure firearms from children.
The Investigation Continues
The Alexandria Police Department has not released additional details about their investigation, including what evidence led them to conclude the shooting was intentional rather than accidental. The lack of public information has left the community speculating about what really happened in those crucial moments before the gun was fired.
For investigators, determining intent in a case involving such young children presents unique challenges. What constitutes “intent” when the suspect is only 10 years old? How do you determine whether a child this age truly understood the consequences of pulling a trigger?
The Community Impact
Beyond the two families directly involved, this shooting has sent shockwaves through the Alexandria community. Parents are questioning the safety of their own children’s play environments, while youth organizations and schools are likely reevaluating their approaches to gun safety education.
The case also highlights the broader issue of gun violence involving children—a problem that extends far beyond Alexandria’s city limits. When 10-year-olds have access to firearms, society must confront difficult questions about gun storage, parental responsibility, and the systems that failed to protect both the victim and the young suspect.
The Road Ahead
As Tre’Michael continues what will be a long and painful recovery process, his family faces mounting medical expenses and an uncertain future. The GoFundMe campaign organized on his behalf represents not just financial support, but a community’s attempt to provide some measure of comfort in the face of senseless violence.
For the 10-year-old suspect, the legal system must now grapple with how to handle a case that pits juvenile justice principles against the severity of the alleged crime. Will he be tried as a juvenile and receive treatment and rehabilitation? Or will the system determine that someone who intentionally shoots another child, regardless of age, must face more serious consequences?
Unanswered Questions
As this case continues to develop, several critical questions remain:
What was the relationship between these two boys before the shooting?
Were there previous incidents or warning signs that went unaddressed?
How did the 10-year-old obtain access to the firearm?
What evidence convinced investigators that the shooting was intentional?
What role, if any, did adult negligence play in this tragedy?
The Bigger Picture
The Alexandria shooting represents more than just a single tragic incident—it exemplifies the complex intersection of juvenile psychology, gun access, and community safety. When children shoot children, society must examine not just the immediate circumstances but the broader failures that allowed such violence to occur.
For TheColdCases.com, this case presents a sobering reminder that not all mysteries involve decades-old disappearances or unidentified remains. Sometimes the most disturbing cases involve the youngest members of our society and the violence they inflict on each other when the systems designed to protect them fail catastrophically.
As investigators continue their work and both families attempt to rebuild shattered lives, Alexandria—and indeed the nation—must confront an uncomfortable truth: when 10-year-olds have access to guns and the alleged intent to use them, we are all, in some way, responsible for the consequences that follow.
If you have any information about this case, please contact the Alexandria Police Department. The investigation remains ongoing.